Work has ground to a halt on a 拢25m Foster + Partners-designed central London hotel after funding dried up.

It is understood that Spanish developer Urvasco told subcontractors on the Silken Hotel in Aldwych to stop work last Friday while it attempted to obtain more cash.

Five subcontractors claim they are owed a total of 拢4.5m. They held emergency talks with Urvasco on Wednesday to resolve the dispute, but are understood to be considering taking legal action and are planning to ask London mayor Boris Johnson to intervene.

One said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e had a series of promises from Urvasco about getting paid; so far we鈥檝e seen nothing.鈥�

Urvasco, which was unavailable for comment, bought the site for 拢84m in January 2005.

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